Department of Housing and Residence Life
Summary Job Function:
Reporting to Assistant Director of Residence Life or an Area Director, the Graduate Assistant (GA) for Health and
Wellness supports the Department of Housing and Residence Life in its efforts to help students learn how to
improve and maintain their social, emotional, mental, intellectual and spiritual wellness while balancing academics
and extracurriculars. The GA provides leadership for health and wellness programs as well as health and wellness
initiatives within the department. A live-in position, the GA provides leadership for student staff in an assigned
area. The GA helps educate residents on University policies and builds community in the community of oversight.
By maintaining visibility and being approachable to student staff and residents, the GA helps educate residents via
programmatic efforts.
Student learning/educational activities performed by the Graduate Assistant: (Please check all that apply and
provide detail if needed.)
X Advising Students
X Program Development and Planning
X_ Instruction
X Mentoring
X Advising student organizations
X Responding to student conduct situations
_X Teaching or instructing courses
X Other (Administrative, Supervision)
Learning Outcomes:
Administration
o Utilize effective communication, planning, scheduling, and organizational skills as they relate to
position responsibilities.
o Manage time away requests from student staff to ensure that adequate coverage is always
present in the area
o Facilitate weekly staff meetings
o Hold designated office hours daily throughout the week, totaling 20 hours of coverage
o Responsible for creating and maintaining staff on-call and evening desk schedules as it relates to
the Resident Assistant duties within the community
o Oversee regular audits of hard keys and electronic FOB keys
o Administer Health and Safety checks as directed by the Residential Life Leadership Team
o Maintain accurate record of building occupancy and current vacancies at all times and report any
inaccuracies to the central office/Residential Leadership Team
o Oversight of area programming budget and office supply budgets
o Manage all Hall Opening and Closing tasks during the beginning and end of each semester
o Participate in recruitment and selection activities for the student, graduate, and professional
staff positions as directed by the Residential Life Leadership Team.
Advising
o Serve as Graduate Co-Advisor to housing leadership organization.
o Attend all general body and executive board meetings.
Awareness
o Identify the unique needs of and be an advocate for diverse groups of students.
o Have knowledge and awareness of all residents living in the community and possible areas of
concern
Communication
o Model clear, direct, and honest communication
o Know your audience, and how best to reach them
Community Development
o Describe the role of housing leadership organizations and Community Councils in a residence hall
setting and how to promote a positive community environment
o Respond to any incidents or issues that arise within your area while you are present
Customer Service
o Identify housing and university services available to students, parents, faculty, and staff.
o Conduct regular walkthroughs of the community to engage with students and monitor facilities
o Always provide premier customer service to students, families, and personnel according to the
university ICARE model
Program Development-
o Model and teach eight dimensions of wellness
o Manage, track, and hold staff accountable for residential curriculum expectations
o Responsible for all Residence Education Model (REM) program tracking data, providing weekly
updates to supervisors and department
o Look at trend data from program tracking to help RAs do needs-based programming for their
floor
o Attend REM and other campus-wide programs to provide support and presence
o Provide resources for students, staff, and organizations that support community and student
development in the housing community
Training
o Develop facilitation and training skills for HFPP, RHA, and Community Councils.
o Provide resources for training and development for student leaders to perform effectively and to
their highest potential.
o Attend all Graduate Assistant and Professional staff training sessions as directed by the
Residential Life Leadership Team
Duties and Responsibilities:
Develop, manage, and promote ResFit initiatives
Work closely with Student Life/Intramurals, Tawes Gym, Counseling Services, Health Center, and other
campus partners to provide supports to students in the 8 dimensions of wellness
Assist in development of online resources for students and staff health and wellness.
Identify campus and community resources that support health and wellness
Assists the ADRL with all aspects of staff orientation and training (Graduate Assistant, RA, SA), including
committee prep-work, scheduling, retreat, etc. and staff development for each semester. Participate in
paraprofessional staff orientation, training, and staff development. **This may require work during
evenings, weekends and holidays.
Consults with graduate staff, Resident Assistant, and Student Assistant staff regarding training and staff
development needs.
Directly supervise 1-12 Resident Assistants
Hold one on one meetings with student staff members.
Conduct weekly staff meetings
Plan and implement staff and team development for student staff and student groups
Conduct RA performance appraisal process
Serve on departmental committees
Role model and enforce all university and housing policies at all times
Train RAs on Residential Curriculum model and expectations
Manage, track, and hold staff accountable for residential curriculum expectations
Look at trend data from program tracking to help RAs do needs-based programming for their floor
Serve as a student conduct hearing officer
Opportunity to advise Community council student organization
Mediate students in conflict and provide resources
Participate in On-call duty rotation
Respond to critical situations as needed as a member of the Residential Life staff
Maintain confidentiality
Qualifications for the position:
Acceptance into the University of Maryland Eastern Shore or Salisbury University Master’s degree
program. Applicants who are pursuing a Master’s in Higher Education Leadership and Counseling
Education are preferred
Ability to work well independently and as part of a team
Advanced written and verbal communication skills
Willingness to work nights and weekends
Experience in Residence Life is strongly preferred
Proficiency with Microsoft Office
Additional Information:
The Graduate Assistant will receive an Assistantship compensation package that includes:
Tuition Scholarship (up to 9 graduate credit hours)
Bi-Weekly stipend
Housing accommodations
The graduate assistantship is a one year position (fall and spring semester). Graduate assistants
are eligible to reapply to this position
Questions? Ayanna Tilghman, Associate Director, Department of Housing and Residence Life,
atilgman@umes.edu or umeshfpp@umes.edu
Department of Housing and Residence Life
